Flashlight



Aug. 1940- H. ROTHENBERG ET AL 2,212,103

FLASHLIGHT Filed Dec. 31, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l I Fig-J Z a Z INVENTORI Aug. 20, 1940. ROTHENBERG 5r AL 2,212,103

FLASHLIGHT Filed Dec. 31, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 z My a INVENTORS BY 5 Patented Aug. 20, 1940 UNl'iEE TA'iTES PATENT C. Grimsley, Jackson Heights, N. Y, assignors to Henry Hyman, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application December 31, 1936, Serial No. 118,514.

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a flashlight that may be carried in a pocket or container or may he stood upright on a flat surface. By this invention the bulb of a flashlight can be so adjusted with respect to the reflector of the flashlight that a spot light or a flood light may be projected or the flashlight may be used so as to simulate the appearance of a candle.

In carrying out the invention provisionis made 10. for moving the bulb of the flashlight axially of the easing into adjusted positions by means that is readily accessible to the user.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a longitudinal section through an illustrative embodiment of the invention with some of the details omitted; Fig. 2 is a side view of the adjusted lamp bulb holder or support; Fig. 3 is a side view partly broken away; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section showing details on an enlarged scale partly broken away;

Fig. 5 is a section along the line 55 of Fig. 4;

and Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6--5 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, reference character I indicates the metal casing of a flashlight to the lower end of which is screwed a cap 2 that is provided with a fiat end 2'. This cap 2 may have its end rounded somewhat in the shape of a truncated cone and ribs may be provided along the conical surface with their flat ends termimating in the plane where the cone is truncated.

A metal head 3 is attached to the upper end of the flashlight casing and a cap t is screwed or otherwise removably attached to this head as indicated at 4'. A reflector 5 and a glass disk 6 of the usual sort are carried by the cap 3.

A support I that may be in the form of a plate or disk is installed in the upper portion of the 40 head 3 and is provided with a central opening in which a cylinder 8, of translucent material, is located, projecting above this support. A housing 9 is provided on the side of the casing I for the switch mechanism. The switch mechanism 45 may, for example, include a push button Iii and a slide II to enable the user to flash the light or turn on the light permanently or move the switch mechanism to the safety position. A

switch mechanism of this sort is shown more in detail in Fig. 4 and its operation will be pointed out later.

Two dry cells I l of the usual sort are shown in the casing I, and these cells are enclosed in cylinders of insulating material in the usual way. A spring contact I5 rests against the lower end of one of the cells and is supported by a metal support It that is attached to the casing I.

An insulating support ill for the contact plate I8 is anchored in the casing I above the upper cell I4, thus enabling the center contact !9 of the upper cell to rest against this plate It. An arm 20 is bent at right angles to the contact plate I8.

A lamp bulb 2| screws into the metal screw shell 22 on a cup shaped metal carrier or support 23 that is provided on its inside with a lining 24 of insulating material. A contact plate 25 for the center contact of the bulb 2i is supported by the support 23, but is insulated therefrom. An arm 26 is bent at right angles to the plate 25 at its edge and bears slidably against the arm 20. An opening 2! is provided through the carrier or support 23 and the lining 24 for free passage of the arm Zil, so that this arm 25 does not contact with the carrier or support 23.

A metal bar 28 is permanently attached to the carrier 23 and is provided with holes 29 for the teeth 30 of a wheel 3!! of insulating material that is revolubly mounted on the shaft 3! in the housing 9 and projects through an opening 32' in this housing so as to be accessible to the user.

The metal bar 28 also has a slot at its free end leaving legs 29' on opposite sides of this slot. A metal housing 32 (Figs. 4-6) is attached to the inside of the casing I but is insulated therefrom by the sheet 33 of insulating material. Tongues 34 and 35 are struck up from the housing 32 and project through openings 36 and 31 respectively, in the casing I. The slot in the bar 255 permits this bar to be slid into the desired positions not 1 withstanding the presence of the tongues 34 and 35.

The operation is as follows: The slide II is moved into the appropriate position by means of the projecting member 38 (Fig. 4) so as to enable the user to close the circuit either for flashing the light or for lighting it permanently, as he desires. In the position shown in Fig. 4 the slide II is in the safety position so that the circuit is not closed even when the button if is pushed. However, when the slide I I is moved by the member 38 until the spring projection 39 on this slide snaps into the depression 4b in the housing 9, pressure on the button Ill causes the end of the spring arm 4| on the slide H to contact with the tongue 35 and close the circuit. Or, if the slide I I is pushed farther the arm 42 on slide l l makes contact with the tongue 34, thus closing the circuit for continuous lighting of the bulb 2i. The wheel 30 is turned so as to move the lamp bulb 2| into the position necessary to project the sort of light desired, whether it be a spot light or a flood light, which will depend upon the position of the lamp bulb 2! with respect to the reflector 5.

The electric circuit may be traced through the lamp bulb from the lower cell l4, center contact l5 (Fig. 1), support It, casing i, slide II, arm 4| and tongue 35, when push button it is pushed and the slide II is moved into position for flashing the light, or the arm 42 and tongue 34 when the slide H is moved into position for permanent light. The tongues 34 and 35 being parts of the housing 32, the current continues along this housing, metal bar 28 in whatever position it may be, carrier or, support 23, screw shell 22, filament of lamp bulb 2|, contact plate 25, arm 26, arm 20, contact plate E8, to the center contact of the other cell M.

When it is desired to simulate the appearance of a candle, the cap 4 is taken off, thus removing the reflector 5 and the glass 6, and the wheel 30' is turned so as to move the lamp bulb 2| into the cylinder 8, so that the bulb is not directly visible when 'viewed from the side.

We claim:

1. In a flashlight, a reflector having a translucent cylinder fixed in the rear opening thereof, a carrier for a lamp socket, sliding contact strips serving to guide said carrier, said carrier comprising an insulated metal strip with perforations therein forming a rack, a toothed insulated wheel cooperating with said rack for extending and retracting the lamp outwardly and within said cylinder, and a switch for completing a circuit from the flashlight casing through said carrier in all positions of said carrier.

2. In a flashlight, a reflector having a translucent cylinder fixed in the rear opening thereof, a carrier for a lamp socket, sliding contact strips serving to guide said carrier, said carrier comprising an insulated metal strip with perforations therein forming a rack, a toothed insulated wheel cooperating with said rack for extending and retracting the lamp outwardly and within said cylinder, and a switch and slide for completing a circuit intermittently from the flashlight casing through said carrier in one position of said slide and continuously in another position of said slide.

HARRY ROTI-IENBERG. LEOPOLD C. GRIMSLEY. 

